Jollibee to open 15 more outlets in Singapore, eyes 150 in Indonesia

MANILA - The famous Philippine chicken joy is spreading its wings across Asia as home-grown fast-food chain Jollibee announced Friday its plans for expansion in Singapore and Indonesia.

Dennis Flores, Jollibee president and head of international business in Europe, Middle East, Asia and Australia, confirmed that 15 more outlets will be opened in Singapore in the next five years.

He also revealed the company's long-term expansion plans in Indonesia.

“We’re looking at putting up no less than 150 stores in Indonesia over the next 10 years,” Flores told ABC-CBN News.

Jollibee opened its first outlet in Singapore in 2013 located at Lucky Plaza, a known hub for overseas Filipino workers. Flores said, a 6th outlet will open at Jurong East in April 2018.

He said the growing number of Singaporean patrons is proof that "Jollibee’s offerings have greatly appealed to the taste buds of the locals."

Aside from Indonesia and Singapore, Jollibee is looking into growing its international store network in Malaysia and Macau.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Jollibee attracts long lines in Singapore despite boycott threat

MANILA – Popular fast food chain Jollibee has opened a branch in Singapore on Tuesday despite the threat of boycott by some Singaporeans who assailed the restaurant’s alleged preference for Filipino workers.

Jollibee’s newest branch is located on the 6th floor of Lucky Plaza along Orchard Road in Singapore.

Some Filipinos decided to line up early before the store opened just to be the very first customers to eat at the branch.

But while the opening seemed successful, a campaign to boycott the restaurant was already online in the past few weeks.

In the website of The Real Singapore (Voices of average Singaporeans), a post urged Singaporeans to boycott the Jollibee there “to send a message that foreign businesses which hire foreigners first are not welcome in Singapore”.

The issue started when Jollibee Singapore posted a message on its Facebook wall urging all “Jollibee fans” looking for careers at Jollibee Singapore to send their detailed resume. However, there is no mention on Jollibee Singapore's Facebook page that it was only hiring Filipinos for its store.

“Unlike other multi-national fastfood restaurants like Macdonalds (sic) and KFC which hire mainly Singaporeans and even the disabled and elderly, Jollibee Singapore intends to hire their fellow Pinoys to fill up jobs in their latest Singapore venture," the post on The Real Singapore said.






A Facebook user reacted to a statement “businesses which targeted the Singaporean market share and profit off Singaporeans should prioritize job opportunities for Singaporeans first”. He pointed out that not many Singaporeans know about Jollibee and that the new branch was specifically opened to cater to Filipinos living or working in the country.

Other comments on the article said it was marred with racial discrimination; while others said Singaporeans should be considered first over other nationalities when businesses open in the country.

Despite the threat of a boycott, the opening day of Jollibee Singapore appeared to be a success with long lines outside the store. Jollibee Singapore’s Facebook account has also been "liked" by nearly 5,000 people and with over 7,000 people talking about it on the said social networking site.

As of December 2011 Stock Estimate of Overseas Filipinos released by the Commission on Overseas Filipinos, there are 180,000 Filipinos in Singapore.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Jollibee opens 1st Singapore store on March 12

MANILA, Philippines - Popular Philippine fast food chain Jollibee is finally opening in Singapore next week.

On its Facebook page, Jollibee announced it is opening its first branch in Singapore on March 12. The branch is located at the 6th floor of Lucky Plaza along Orchard Road.

In a separate Facebook page, Jollibee Singapore has already posted some photos of the new branch, which shows colorful chairs and wall decor.

Jollibee Foods Corp.'s wholly owned subsidiary Golden Plate Pte. Ltd. last year signed an agreement to form a company with Beeworks Inc. to open and operate Jollibee stores in Singapore.

The new company is 60% owned by Golden Plate, which has full management control, and 40% owned by Beeworks. Beeworks is owned by Singaporeans, including hotelier Jennie Chua and other veterans of the hospitality industry.

Jollibee now operates the Philippines' largest food service, with a total of 2,040 stores as of end-September. The firm's stores include Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal and Burger King.

For its foreign operations, the company has 541 stores as of end-September. Aside from the Jollibee foodchain, stores abroad include Yonghe King, Hong Zhuang Yuan, San Pin Wang, Red Ribbon, Chowking, and Chow Fun.

source: abs-cbnnews.com